Returning to Merseyside after a successful start to their latest Champions League adventure, Liverpool host Bournemouth in Saturday afternoon's Premier League battle.
The Reds produced another comeback victory over AC Milan in Tuesday's 3-1 European victory, while the Cherries have had a week to mull over their excruciating 1-0 loss to Chelsea.
Match preview
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Prior to Liverpool's latest scrap with historical foes Milan, Arne Slot insisted that his birthday celebrations would take a back seat at San Siro, but the newly-appointed Reds boss could afford to revel in European enjoyment after his side's scintillating turnaround.
The six-time European champions were briefly up against it thanks to a Christian Pulisic opener, but headers from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate turned the tide in the first half before the thigh of Dominik Szoboszlai put the icing on Slot's birthday cake.
It was not quite to the degree of Istanbul 2005, but beating the Rossoneri in their own backyard was just the response that was required to last weekend's disappointment, where the Reds unsuccessfully huffed and puffed at the Nottingham Forest door and succumbed to a sublime Callum Hudson-Odoi winner in Slot's first competitive loss.
Nevertheless, the Reds still occupy the fourth and final Champions League position in the early-season standings, sitting just one point adrift of Arsenal and Newcastle United and two worse off than perfect Manchester City, while also boasting the joint-best defensive record alongside the Gunners.
As well as sharing Arsenal's tally of one in the goals conceded column, Liverpool have only faced 28 shots in total and 10 on target in the 2024-25 Premier League - both division bests - but their upcoming foes can sympathise over late 1-0 losses on home turf.
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In strikingly similar fashion to their more esteemed counterparts, Bournemouth would have been deserving victors against a below-par Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium last week, where Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez went from zero to hero by giving away a penalty and then saving said spot kick.
In the end, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had to turn to his expensively-assembled cavalry on the bench, as substitutes Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku combined for a last-gasp Chelsea winner on the South Coast, thus ending Bournemouth's unbeaten start to 2024-25.
Had Andoni Iraola's men clung on for the final few moments, they would have gone four games without losing at the start of a Premier League season for the first time ever, but the 11th-placed visitors cannot dwell on such hypotheticals before a daunting trip north.
Still boasting just the one win this term - that phenomenal comeback success against a dumbstruck Everton - Bournemouth could now join 2012 Arsenal and 2021 Manchester City as just the third Premier League team to win back-to-back away games against both Merseyside clubs.
However, none of Bournemouth's three meetings with Liverpool went the way of the Cherries last term, as the Reds coincidentally fought back from conceding early to win 3-1 at Anfield, before 2-1 and 4-0 successes on the South Coast in the EFL Cup and Premier League respectively.
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Team News
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Liverpool new boy Federico Chiesa was not deemed ready for a first appearance of the season against either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest, but the Italian finally earned his Reds baptism as a late substitute at San Siro and will now be in contention for his first start.
With Chiesa now at an acceptable level of fitness, foot fracture victim Harvey Elliott is the only definite absentee for the hosts to worry about on Saturday, but Alisson Becker is a fresh doubt with a hamstring issue, so Caoimhin Kelleher could deputise in goal.
Kostas Tsimikas earned an unexpected start against Milan, but Andrew Robertson will certainly displace his Greek colleague at left-back this weekend, while Luis Diaz should also demote Cody Gakpo to the bench despite the Dutchman's assist for Szoboszlai on Tuesday.
As far as Bournemouth are concerned, Iraola will welcome on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga back to the squad with open arms after the Spaniard was ineligible to face his parent club last weekend, where Mark Travers deputised well.
Nevertheless, Kepa will certainly wrestle the gloves off of Travers at Anfield, where Tyler Adams (back) will definitely miss out, while Dango Ouattara (ankle) is still a doubt.
Another disappointing night for Evanilson last weekend saw the ex-Porto man miss a penalty before being hooked on the 68-minute mark, and he now faces incredibly stiff attacking competition from the fit-again Enes Unal.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Unal
We say: Liverpool 2-0 Bournemouth
Barring Hudson-Odoi's exquisite strike last weekend, defensive solidity has been the theme for Liverpool in the Premier League under Slot, who witnessed the perfect reaction at San Siro and should also oversee a home performance more befitting of the Reds on Saturday.
Bournemouth have been able to keep all of their games close in 2024-25 and should not be blown to smithereens by their hosts here, but we cannot see any scenario that involves the Cherries leaving with anything to show for their efforts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
